Moab. Now Balak, king of the Moabites, was much alarmed at the sight of so many people around him, and he sent elders with offers of very great reward unto Balaam, a famous prophet, if he would come and curse this people.

Balaam told the messengers to wait until the morning, that he might know whether the Lord would permit him to go or not; but God told Balaam he should not curse Israel, for they were blessed.

Then Balak sent again many great men, and higher rewards, to induce him to come, and he consented; for God told him, if the men came again, to go, but only to speak what He should command him.

Then Balaam saddled his ass, took two servants, and set out with the princes of Moab; but an angel of the Lord stood in his way, in a narrow path, where there was not room to turn aside. Although Balaam did not see him, his ass did, and refused to go on.

Upon this, Balaam beat her very cruelly, when the Lord caused the dumb animal to open her mouth, and complain to her master for thus treating her. Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord, with his sword drawn, standing in the way, and he bowed before him, and fell on his face.

The angel was displeased with him, and told him, that had it not been for the ass, he would have been slain. Then

Balaam owned that he had sinned, and offered to go back again; but the Lord said, 'Go with the men; only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that shalt thou speak.'

When Balaam came in sight of the tents of Israel, instead of curses, which Balak had hoped for, out of his mouth came blessings; for he said, 'How shall I curse those whom the Lord hath not cursed?' and he blessed the Israelites three times.

This, and many more miracles, did God work for his chosen, yet ungrateful, people, until the forty years of their wandering were ended.

Then Moses, having faithfully delivered to his people the whole law of God, went to the top of mount Pisgah, was favored with a sight of the promised land, and, leaving Joshua to command the people, died, being one hundred and twenty years old; yet his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

HOW THE ISRAELITES WENT TO THE

LAND OF CANAAN.

AFTER the death of Moses, their new leader led the people over the river Jordan. He who had so miraculously made for them a dry path through the Red sea, also caused the waters of this river to divide when the priests stepped in they thus safely entered into the promised land.

Then Joshua, at the command of the Lord, caused twelve stones to be dug from the bottom of the river Jordan, and set up at this place, as a memorial unto the children of Israel, forever.

A memorial is any thing which serves to remind us of a particular event, thus the Israelites, whenever they looked upon these stones, were to remember, with gratitude, that God who had helped them in all their troubles, and who still continued to make their path plain before them.

After they had eaten the corn and wine of the fruitful land in which they had now arrived, their daily supply of manna ceased. They had many difficulties to meet with before they could expect to find rest after their long journey, r comfortable homes for themselves and their families. But

their heavenly Father fought for them, and made hard things easy; proving that He was indeed able and willing to work miracles on their behalf.

While they were encamped before Jericho, He caused the walls of that city to fall down flat to the ground, that they might go in and possess it. Whilst they were fighting for the men of Gibeon, God caused the sun to stand still, and the moon to be stayed in her course, by which the day was lengthened until the victory was completely obtained.

You may read this for yourselves in the book of Joshua, and you may there find how the land was divided among the ten tribes.

When Joshua had lived many years, and served the Lord his God, he assembled the tribes of Shechem, where he set before them the mercies of the Almighty from the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, until that present day.

He reminded the people of God's gracious promises to Abraham, which had been fulfilled; he called to their remembrance the wonders which He had worked in the land of Egypt, and the many instances in which He had appeared as their preserver, during their eventful journey.

He then called upon them to fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and truth, to put away their false gods, and to serve Him alone. He told them whichever side they might choose, he and his house would serve the Lord. The

E

people then owned the Lord for their God, and acknowledg ed that He had brought them up from the land of Egypt, and done great signs in their sight.

Joshua then made a covenant with them, took a large stone, and set it up as a witness of their promise to serve the Lord their God, and Him alone.

After this, Joshua, the servant of the Lord, died, being one hundred and ten years old.

About this time, the people buried the bones of Joseph, which, you may remember, they brought up with them from the land of Egypt.

THE STORY OF RUTH.

WHEN the children of Israel first returned to their native land, they were not governed by kings, but the principal person, and the one possessing most power, was called judge over the land, to whom they looked up as they had done to Moses.

These judges were also prophets, and made known to the people the will of their God; they went with them to battle, and often through the might of Him in whom they trusted, ed them safely back.

'Now it came to pass in those days, when the judges